Coronavirus Preparations and Action Plan

Caroline Pidgeon: The outbreak of coronavirus in China is concerning for many Londoners, not least because London is a national and international transport hub, which includes Heathrow, Europe’s largest airport. What measures have you taken to protect Londoners from the potential impacts of coronavirus, and how are you working with Government and other agencies to ensure Londoners stay safe?

The Mayor: At the time of responding, the risk to individuals from COVID-19 remains low in the UK, but we continue to monitor the situation closely. London has a mature and well-developed Pandemic Influenza Framework. Work has been undertaken by Public Health England (PHE), NHS England and NHS Improvement (London), local authorities and the London Resilience Group to adapt the current Pandemic Framework for the novel Coronavirus.
I am in regular contact with PHEand receive regular briefings on the situation. My Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience and Chair of the London Resilience Forum, Fiona Twycross, has established an Ops Cell to monitor the developing situation and ensure the GLA and London Resilience Group are joined up, undertaking appropriate preparatory activities and ready to respond as the situation requires. The Ops Cell currently meets twice a week, with meetings scheduled to follow the twice-weekly MHCLG calls with Chairs of all Local Resilience Forums These systems are well rehearsed and are sensitive to the emerging situation.

Fundraising Powers

Navin Shah: What additional fundraising powers have you secured from the Government for major infrastructure projects since you were elected?

The Mayor: From 2017-18 and onwards I agreed with the Government a higher share of retained business rates through the London-wide pilots. This provided funding for extra spend on infrastructure from the Strategic Investment Fund.
In 2019, I agreed with the Government that I could have the ability to use the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (MCIL) to finance additional borrowing by the GLA for Crossrail.

Learning from August energy blackouts (1)

Andrew Dismore: What changes to policy, practice and procedure has the London Resilience Group implemented following its review of the report into the August energy blackouts?

The Mayor: The London Resilience Group (LRG) has now reviewed the Ofgem report into the August energy blackout and have concluded that no changes to the LRG’s current policy, practice or procedure to major incidents of power failure are needed as a result of the report’s findings.
The report findings are focussed upon the energy sector and its recommendations relate to the Electricity System Operators, system security, distributed generation and demand disconnection arrangements. The recommendations relating to the train operating companies have been referred to the Office of Rail Regulation.
As per the response to Mayor's Question 2020/0261, Network Rail representatives confirmed that the necessary train operating companies have upgraded their software to avoid similar transport disruption again. As the Ofgem report concludes, the Electricity Supply Organisations and Distribution Network Operators were generally effective in restoring the system properly, within 45 minutes.